The Taliban, Public Space, and Terror in Pakistan

Abstract

Two UK-based specialists on terrorism in Pakistan use empirical evidence to document and analyze the Pakistani Taliban's (Tehrik-e-Taliban) practice of targeting spaces of public interaction for terrorism intended to suppress expressions of public unity and restrict venues for open discussion. In tracing the rise of the Taliban in Pakistan, the authors review the country's history of state and civil society formation, its relations with Afghanistan, and U.S. and Western policy in the region. The authors present timely information and insights that enhance understanding of the recent surge in terrorist attacks on civilians in Pakistan and its ties to the eastward spread of conflict from neighboring Afghanistan.

Keywords:

• Pakistan
• Afghanistan
• Tehrik-e-Taliban
• terrorism
• suicide bombers
• public spaces
• al-Qaeda
• Khyber-Pakhtunkwa province
• Swat valley
• Wahhabis